Canada - Concern over sub calmed

OJIBWA: Meeting was held to gauge ratepayer support for possible new tourist attraction

The retired Canadian submarine Ojibwa seemed to successfully navigate the shoals of public opposition at a jam-packed public meeting in Bayham this week.

Project Ojibwa would see the decommissioned Cold War-era submarine the length of a football field shipped from Halifax to Port Burwell, where it'll become a tourist attraction at a new museum.

"We were able to lower the level of anxiety," Bayham Mayor Paul Ens said this week, noting concerns about a financial guarantee the backers of the project are seeking appeared to have been addressed to the satisfaction of most.

He said he expects council to meet with board members of the Elgin Military Museum shortly and council to formally vote on the financial guarantee within two weeks.

Ens said the mood of the meeting was mainly positive and it was the mood of the community of 7,000 his council had wanted to test.

Project co-ordinator Dan McNeil said he is pleased the community sentiment is so positive, with a key sentiment of "get this thing done, we want this."

"This project co-ordinator is extremely positive that we can work it out, the object being to minimize the risk to the ratepayer and maximize the opportunity," he said.

Before the Ojibwa can embark on its last journey to its lakeside perch, federal officials are demanding a financial guarantee of up to $6 million from the host municipality.

Council in Bayham balked at potential liability, concerned ratepayers might be on the hook if something goes wrong and called this week's meeting to seek public input.

McNeil said it is too soon to rejoice, because the final decision rests with Bayham council.

Ens is not willing to prejudge council's vote on the guarantee, but concedes answers provided by the museum board, which includes former Bayham mayor Lynn Acre, seemed to satisfy most who had concerns.

A $1.9 million grant from the federal government is helping move the submarine and create a home for it in Port Burwell.